At-a-Glance Our Points of Pride

� District 7 received an EXCELLENT rating on its 2014 State Report Card. The Absolute Rating has advanced for the fourth consecutive year. � District 7 on-time Graduation Rate improved for the 5th consecutive year and surpassed the state and national average. � Of the 660 elementary schools in S.C., Pine Street Elementary is ranked 6th in state on performance rating on the state report card.

� District 7 joined the League of Innovative Schools. D7 is one of only 57 school districts in the nation to be recognized for it’s innovative vision for learning, and for its commitment to enhancing education through technology. By doing so we’ve engaged students in leadership learning, and we’ve strived to ensure all young people have the personal development to be competitive wherever they chose to go.

� Spartanburg High School’s SAT Score Matches the National Average.  SHS has an average SAT score of 1471, which matches the national average and is 42 points above the public school state average. More than half of all seniors took the SAT, and for schools where at least 50% of seniors were tested, D7’s composite score exceeded all other Spartanburg, Cherokee, Union, AND Greenville counties. D7 was one of only seventeen school districts in the state to meet the national average on SAT.

• SHS exceeds the State and National AP Passage Rate Percentage. District 7’s average AP passage rate was 75%. The district gave a whooping 595 exams, which is significant. D7 also continues to focus on dual enrollment - students take college level courses at the Viking Early College, Spartanburg Early College, and Scholars Academy. SHS seniors earned over $22 million dollars in scholarship funds in 2014.

• SHS is one of Newsweek’s America’s Top High Schools for Beating the Odds, one of America’s Most Challenging High Schools by The Washington Post, a U.S. News & World Report Best High School, and a Best Public High Schools in S.C. in the Niche Rankings.

• The Spartanburg Herald awarded the General Excellence Award for Athletics to SHS.

• District 7 Schools receive Common Sense Digital Citizenship Signature recognition – Mary H. Wright Elementary, Nov 2013; Chapman Elementary, Jan 2014; Carver Middle, March 2014; Jesse Boyd, Nov 2014.

• Carver Middle School awarded South Carolina State Museum Windows to New Worlds Boeing STEM Grant (only five SC schools selected for the pilot).

� District 7 partners with the Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM), a countywide movement in pursuit of high academic achievement at every level from birth to college. Over 3500 parents have signed a SAM partnership agreement.

� District 7 partners with TransformSC – The Early Learning Center at Park Hills, The Cleveland Academy of Leadership, and the Viking Early College selected as a promising model program in transforming education. Our Advancing Innovations Seven Ignites District 7 has issued all 6th - 12th grade students MacBook Air laptops and all 3rd - 5th graders iPads. The goal - to harness technology to prepare our students to be college, career and citizenship ready, to provide them with tools to become expert communicators, collaborators, critical thinkers, and to be creative in a technologically rich learning environment. Our teachers are engaged in relevant, ongoing professional development to support this blended learning initiative, and Technology Integration Specialists are on staff in our schools to optimize learning. The success of Seven Ignites is a high quality educational experience that is relevant, engaging and encompasses the key tenants of 21st Century Learning - communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity – and an environment where anytime-anywhere learning is flourishing in our community.

Cleveland Academy of Leadership Cleveland Academy is a 4K-5grade extended-year school, and the first one in S.C. with added mandatory days to the school year. Students attend school 25 days longer. After two years of implementation, the school has moved from the lowest possible rating (at-risk) on the state report card to below average. In addition to the extended year and laser-like focus on literacy and math, the school adopted the Leader in Me

model to foster leadership skills in every student. Steven Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” are woven into the curriculum, and students and their families are immersed in the “Habits” on a daily basis. Cleveland Academy recently celebrated their latest milestone - “Lighthouse School” status! Cleveland joins an elite group of ONLY 102 Leader in Me schools nationwide to earn the distinction awarded by the global leadership organization known as Franklin Covey. Cleveland adopted the model in 2011, and has integrated the 7 Habits of Leadership in every aspect of the school’s curriculum.

Early Learning Center at Park Hills The Early Learning Center is a world-class full service community school for children from birth to 4 years old. With the generous support of a grant from the Mary Black Foundation, the center, along with Spartanburg First Steps, is able to provide family and community services integrated into the center’s offerings – parent education, adult education, home visits, medical care, and social services. A wellness center through ReGenesis Health Care is also offered which include family medicine, pediatrics, immunizations, community-based health education, dental screenings, and exams and mental health referrals.

Viking Early College Now in its second year, the Viking Early College (VEC) is a single-gender early college that provides young men a unique opportunity to earn an associate’s degree in a four-year college transfer program while in high school. The target population is first-generation college going students who are solid students, good citizens, and have the aptitude and potential to graduate from high school; however, college may or may not be in their future plans. VEC students attend school half-day at SHS and half-day on the Spartanburg Community College Campus during their 9th and 10th grade years. When students are in the 11th and 12th grades most of their time will be spent on the College campus and completing internships. In addition to earning college credit, students are exposed to new experiences, new careers, and leadership exposure throughout the community and state.

Visionary Leadership: Dr. Russell W. Booker Superintendent of the Year District Seven’s vision for innovation and transformative change is embodied by our dynamic Superintendent, Dr. Russell Booker, who has been named the 2015 South Carolina Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Booker will compete for the 2015 National Superintendent of the Year award sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). Recently, our Superintendent was among 100 nationwide selected by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the first National Connected Superintendents Summit held at the White House in Washington, D.C. Our District

� District Seven provides every student an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful, productive citizens. We accomplish this mission by providing innovative, demanding learning experiences at every grade level. Our motto is - Tradition. Excellence. Innovation. In these efforts and, in all ways, the District strives for unmatched excellence in academics,

athletics, activities, and the arts. • District 7 is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of 9 elected community leaders • District 7 serves approximately 7200 students in one early learning center, seven elementary schools, three

middle schools and one high school. We share a technology center with District 3 and a countywide special needs school with all county school districts.

• Each district elementary school has a unique focus and school choice is offered.

Elementary School Concentrations

International Technology Leadership Inquiry STEAM Art Montessori Baccalaureate (IB)

Our Students Total 7148 African America 3984 (55.7%) White 2294 (32.1%) Hispanic 403 (5.6%) Asian 205 (2.9%) Other 262 (3.7%)

Gifted and Talented 17.5% Enrolled in AP 25.7% Free & Reduced 70.8%